And Now, The Rest of the Story on Those SD45s on a Mullan Pass Helper

Prologue: The dynamic duo of 346, and 355 are on a WB in Helena Yard last Wednesday, August 5. Train was either the LM, or maybe a Laurel-Pasco.

What got me off the couch last Saturday. Heard "3183" on the radio, and we just don't get GP50s on the MRL. Turned out to be a Loram Ballast Cleaner train. Plan was to beat up the hill for one more shot.

But that changed as soon as I saw the 45s on the rear of helper set at the East end of Austin, photo thru windshield.

The set heads down Seven Mile Creek Canyon towards Birdseye.

Gliding down thru Tobin, at this point the helper crew is calling Helena Yard for instructions. They are told to get on the back of a Q-Train at the Junction. Crew then mentions the fact that they have two unmanned units in the consist (the 45s.) Initial instructions are to come into town and drop off the 45s. This order gets belayed because the Q-Train is blocking Joslyn St. The remark is made that it wouldn't hurt taking the 45s  back up the hill. Cool!

The SD45s  are cut out, and the crew is in the 4304.

Crossing Head Lane

Shovin' up thru Tobin. Typical consist of the Q-Train these days is domestic stacks, auto racks, the a cut of fill.

TWJ Preview - SD45s "Return" to Mullan Pass Helper Service

MRL 346 and 355 are on the rear end of a Q-Train leaving Helena Jct. this last Saturday. Explanation and more photos to follow.

Helena Big Power Doin's

The Helena Switch returning from Montana City with cement from Ashgrove.  The boxcars are probably from Chemet in East Helena. This is the only time I have ever seen an ACe on the Switch.

Carter Street, Helena.

One day last week the 346 was the sole power on the Helena Switch. GP9 109 paired back up the next day.

The plot thickens though, as 109 is now out of service. It had been smoking a lot as of late.

The previous day the WB Q Train is setting out PRLX SD75 . The  crew was heard to ask if Helena Yard really wanted this unit.

And voila, the Helena Switch is now two big units.

While Ten-Wheeler 1382 awaits the day I win Powerball, restore it, and run excursions to Great Falls, the Switch pulls out a boxcar from the house track.

Back to the main on the connecting track. They will need to go down to the Helena West crossovers to get back into the yard. The box brought in MofW supplies which is the only traffic the house track sees.

56 Cylinders, 10,200 Horsepower, 36,120 Cubic Inches Equals One Overpowered Ballast Train

Making up a ballast train at Roberts Street. The 45s put on a fine bass show in the process.

Departure, rain in the valley, snow up on Mt. Helena

Today's LM at the Skyline Trestle

355 in company service today and not BNSF horsepower return.

MRL SD45 Era Not Yet Over

The ML hits the switch at Tobin last Thursday.

I chased a company train (ballast and rail) up the hill to Austin, and was very surprised to hear "MRL 355" on the radio. Turned out to be an ML, but 259 was on the point. This train is usually the exclusive province of the newer 4400 series ACe's.

The Helena Twenty Cylinder Preservation Society

MRL 382 at National Ave. in Helena

MRL 382 Ventures Off The Main

MRL 382 and 109 at National Ave. in Helena headed out to Fort Harrison.

What  a classic, love the older style radiator grills on 45s.

Throwing the switch for the Ft. Harrison Spur
(Between Helena Jct. and Tobin)

Proceeding on to the spur.

Derail down, ahead.

Through the fort gates. Movement did not get out till after dark.

20 x 645 + 16 x 710 = 24,260 Cubic Inches of Switcher

MRL 382 and 4308 have been the 840 local power for about a month now. The Helena Switch uses this power for the heavy moving in Helena Yard.  As you can see in the last photo, some of the big cuts take the power all the way down to National Avenue, bocking three grade crossings at once. The City of Helena wants an overpass at Montana Avenue, and to close National and Roberts Street crossings.

MRL 382 - Not Dead Yet

MRL 382 part of an unmanned helper on today's KICKSPO, left Helena at 4:30 p.m.

MRL 319 West - Tobin to Austin

Almost went to Great Falls yesterday, but slept in. Went down to the depot, and heard "MRL 319 West" on the radio, nuff said. BTW, Mullan Pass road is not yet passable between Skyline and Blossburg.